Indonesian Soldier Falls in UNIFIL Mission, Parliament Demands Investigation into Attack's Origin

The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) has urged a comprehensive investigation into the death of a TNI soldier in a missile attack on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) headquarters. The origin of the attack and the responsible parties must be clearly revealed.

Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the DPR, Dave Laksono, stressed that a detailed probe into the incident is key to ensuring justice for the victim’s family and preventing similar occurrences.

“There must be an in-depth investigation. Where the attack came from, who the perpetrators were, and how the target point could hit our soldiers—all of this must be clear,” Dave said at the Parliamentary Complex in Senayan on Monday (30/3).

He highlighted two crucial possibilities: whether the soldiers were in a vulnerable position or if there was a mistake in information from the attackers. According to him, clarity on the facts is important to stop wild speculation.

“Was our position incorrect, or was there an intelligence miscommunication from the attackers? This must be uncovered,” he stated.

The investigation results, Dave continued, should serve as the basis for a thorough evaluation of the standard operating procedures (SOP) for TNI’s international assignments.

“This is an opportunity to strengthen the SOP so that there are no more gaps that endanger our troops in conflict zones,” emphasised the Golkar politician.

Previously, one TNI soldier serving in the UNIFIL mission was reported killed amid the rising escalation of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.

Head of Public Relations Bureau of the Ministry of Defence, Brigadier General TNI Rico Ricardo Sirait, confirmed the incident that occurred around Adchit Al Qusayr on Sunday (29/3) night.

In addition to one fatality, three other soldiers were injured—one seriously and two lightly—and have received medical treatment.

“We confirm the incident in the UNIFIL area due to security escalation. One soldier died, one seriously injured, and two lightly injured,” Rico said.

Initial reports indicate that TNI troops were caught in the midst of artillery exchanges between the conflicting parties. To date, the investigation is still being conducted by UNIFIL authorities.

“The clarification process is still ongoing in the field,” Rico stated.

The TNI has confirmed the death of Private First Class Farizal Rhomadhon in the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon. Three other soldiers are injured, and the investigation into the cause of the incident is still underway.